Machine for making covered buttons



Dec. 22, 1970 J, NEWlG 3,548,689

MACHINE FOR MAKING COVERED BUTTONS Filed Nov. 14, 196e l 5 Sheets-Sheet l FIQ ,l'InveN'roR JULlus NEWIG Afrvs.

Dec. 22, 1970 J, NEWK; 3,548,689

MACHINE FOR MAKING COVERED BUTTONS 23" A INveu-ron N Juuus NEwlG Dec. 22, 1970 J. Nr-:wlcs 3,548,689

MACHINE FOR MAKING COVERED BUTTONS Filed Nov. 14, 1968 `SVSheets-Sheet 5 Ill-m mmm /`\\ Gx l I NVE NToR JuLlus News?. LL

United States Patent 3,548,689 MACHINE FOR MAKING COVERED BUTTONS Julius Newig, Elmwood Park, Ill., assiguor to Handy Button Machine Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov.. 14, 1968, Ser. No. 775,628 Int. Cl. A44b 1/06 U.S. Cl. 79-5 9 Claims ABSTRACTl OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for making covered buttons comprises a group of lower dies on a turntable each for supporting a cloth cover and shell fed thereto. The lower dies are successively moved into alignment with a plunger that enters each lower die to cause the cover to be wrapped over the shell, the covered shell being retained in the lower die. Each covered shell-containing lower die is then advanced into alignment with an upper die assembly, parts of which vertically separate to receive a button back. The upper die assembly parts close and a plunger forming part of the upper die assembly transfers the button back from the upper die assembly into the lower die, and the two dies cooperate to clinch the back, cloth and shell together to form a completed button for each stroke of the upper (lie assembly.

This invention relates generally to button making, and more particularly to a machine for making buttons covered with cloth, plastic or the like.

The present invention is concerned with the high speed manufacture of buttons that consist of a metal shell, a cover for the shell and a button back. Numerous machines are known which assemble these button components. One such high speed machine comprises a series of lower dies mounted on a turntable so that each lower die successively moves into cooperate position with an upper die. A shell and a cover are each placed in alternate dies and button backs are placed in the intervening dies. As the upper die descends into the lower die, the upper die wraps the cover over the outside of the shell and also picks up the now covered shell. The covered shell now in the upper die has a depending skirt that extends axially beyond the bottom rim of the shell. As the next die, which contains a back, comes into alignment with the upper die, the latter with the covered shell therein descends forcing the covered shell into telescopic engagement with the back and clinching the three button components together so that the skirt is turned into the shell to lie between the back and shell. The upper die retracts and the turntable is indexed again moving the completed button to a station where it is removed from its die and also bringing another lower die into position for wrapping and pickup by the upper die, as aforesaid.

In a machine of the foregoing type an automatic mechanism has been used to feed shells to alternate lower dies leaving the two hands of the machine operator to place the covers and backs on the dies. The machine can be run as fast as is possible for an operator to supply the backs and cloth to the dies, but nevertheless, a completed button would be produced only upon every second stroke of the upper die.

It is an object of this invention to provide a machine for making buttons of the type stated in which a shell and cover are assembled in each lower die, and each lower die moves in succession to an upper die assembly for cooperation therewith to clinch a back with the covered shell, whereby a completed button is made at every stroke of the upper die assembly. The backs and shells are automatically fed to the upper die assembly and lower ICC dies, respectively, in proper timed relationship and the operator need only feed the covered shell to the lower dies.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a novel upper die assembly that receives and retains a back that is fed thereto and wherein the back is advanced into each lower die for clinching the button components together.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a machine of the type stated in which the upper die assembly has parts which are vertically separable to permit lateral insertion of a button back into the assembly, after which the die parts are closed and the back is introduced into the lower die and the button components are clinched together.

The attainment of the above and further objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken approximately at the axis of the turntable of the machine, and showing the same constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the button shell-feeding mechanism of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. l

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of portions of the machine;

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are fragmentary sectional views taken along the central axis of the dies and showing successive stages of operation of the machine;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged portion of FIG. 8; and

FIG. l() is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale and taken approximately along line 10-10 of FIG. 1.

Referring now in more detail to the drawing, 1 designates a button-covering machine comprising a base plate 2 for rotatably supporting a turntable 3. The turntable 3 includes a lower die-supporting disc 4 and an upper dial plate 6 in rigid spaced parallel relation thereto, the dial plate 6 being flush with the xed table 7 of the machine. Disposed in a planetary fashion about the center of the turntable 3 are equally spaced lower or holding dies 8, there being six in the present machine. Each die 8 includes an upstanding pin 9 rigidly secured to the disc 4 and projecting coaXially into the die cavity 11. Each die 8 is movable relative to its associated pin 9, being biased u-pwardly and normally flush with the dial plate 6 by a compression spring 12. Each die 8 is also secured for movement relative to its pin 9 by a short cross pin 13 that moves within the limits of a longitudinal slot 14 in pin 9. Each die also has a shoulder 16 `(FIG. 5) for supporting a pliable button cover c and a superimposed button shell s, for purposes presently more fully appearing.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4,below the base plate 2 is a suitable gear box 17 driven by a motor .18 in a conventional manner. An output shaft 19 from the gear box 17 drives a crank 21 which in turn drives a pitman 22 journalled at one end thereon. The other end of the pitman 22 is journalled on a slide 23 that reciprocates on a slide bearing 24 at one side of the base plate 2. A connecting rod 26 is rotatably pinned at one end to the slide 23 and likewise at its other end to its journal boss 27 on the underside of a ratchet plate 28, the latter being below the disc 4 and rotatable about the axis of a spindle 29, which is at the center of the turntable 3. The ratchet plate 28 carries a rockable drive pawl 30 the pointed end of which is biased by a hairpin spring 32 for successive engagement with one of six notches 33 on the periphery of the `disc 4. Rockably pinned to the base plate 2 is a pawl 34 biased by its hairpin spring 36 toward the notches 33. For each rotation of the crank 21, the index plate 28 is rotated sixty degrees counterclockwise from the position shown in FIG. 3 and then returned. This rotates the turntable 3 sixty degrees through the driving engagement of the pawl 30 therewith. When the index plate 28 returns the pawl 34 prevents back rotation of the turntable 3.

An overhead plunger 38 is provided for pressing a button cover c and shell s into a die 8 after each indexing of the turntable 3, as previously described, since each such indexing brings one of the dies 8 into coaxial relationship with the plunger 38. The plunger head is rounded to the contour of the shell s. The plunger 38 is operated by an air cylinder 39 having air lines 41, 42 and under control of a conventional reversing valve 43 (FIG. 4). A valve actuator 44 is depressed by a bracket 45 on a rocker arm 46 to admit air into the line 42 to depress the plunger 38. When the valve actuator 44 is released, air is admitted into the line 41 to retract the plunger 38. The cylinder 39 and valve 43 are both rigidly joined to a top frame 48 of the machine. The cylinder 43 may be mounted on the frame 48 by a bracket 49 (FIG. l).

A button cover c is manually fed to the shoulder 16 of an empty die 8, such as a die `8 that is sixty or one hundred twenty degrees clockwise (reference to FIG. 4) from the plunger 38. When that die 8 is indexed to alignment with the plunger 38 a shell s is deposited, open side up, in a manner hereinafter described, onto the cover c. When this is done, the pertinent machine parts and the button components appear as shown in FIG. 5. The valve actuator 44 is then depressed to drive the plunger 38 into the die so that parts assume the positions shown in FIG. 6. The cover c will be wrapped over the outside of the shell s and the two will be displaced axially from the shoulder 216 and into the narrower diameter part of the die cavity 11, wherein the die pin 9 will support the wrapped shell in place when the plunger 38 is retracted. In this condition a skirt portion f of the cover extends axially upwardly from the opening of the shell c. Normally, tolerances of the components c and s are such that the die 8 does not depress, but to prevent the die 8 from depressing, a nger 51 may be secured to the frame of the machine at this station to underlie closely the die -8.

The machine also has a mechanism 52 for feeding a sheet metal shell s to each die 8 after it has been indexed to the plunger 38. As best seen in FIG. 2, this mechanism comprises an inclined chute 54 for containing a row of shells, open side down, the chute 54 having a top retainer 56. At the bottom of the chute 54 is a turnover block 57 that is pivoted about coaxial pins 55, 55. The block 57 has an arcuate notch 58 for receiving shells, one at a time. The turnover block 57 pivots with and is operated by a lever 60 that is joined to an actuator bar 61 by a tension spring 62. A rockable arm 63 is pivoted on a bracket 64 and has a rod 66 with a stop 67 for engagement with and release from the penultimate shell from the bottom of the chute 54. The rod 66 is biased by a spring 68 into engagement with the step-shaped cam surface 69 on the upper edge of the actuator bar 61.

When the actuator bar 61 is in the position shown in FIG. 2, the turnover block 57 has rotated to turn over the lower shell s received from the chute 54 and deposit it in a guide 70 that is in alignment with the die 8 therebelow. The shell falls through the g-uide 70 and comes to rest on the cover c centered in the die 8, as shown in FIG. 5. When the actuator bar 61 is in the position of FIG. 2, the rod 66 is on the high portion of the cam surface 69 so that the stop 67 is raised to let the column of shells drop downwardly in the chute 54. What then becomes the lowermost shell in the chute is retained by the back side of the turnover block 57. When the actuator bar 61 moves substantially to the right to return the turnover block 57 for receiving another shell, the now lowermost shell will fall into the notch 58. The rod 66 will, however, now be on the low portion of the cam surface 69 so that the stop 67 bears down against the shell that is immediately adjacent to the shell in the notch 58.

The actuator bar 61 is operated in timed relation with other parts of the machine. For this purpose, the bar 61 has a depending arm 71 `that extends through a slot 72 in the table 7 and has a follower portion 73 that is slidable in bearings 74, 74 in the base plate 2. The follower portion 73 terminates in a roller 76 (FIG. 3) that engages a cam 77 carried by the ratchet plate 28. Any suitable tension spring 78 may be used to bias the follower portion 73 into engagement with the cam 77. When the follower roller 76 is at the high point on the cam 77, as shown in FIG. 3, the actuator bar 61 will be in its rightmost position (FIG. l), and a shell s will be in the notch 58 preparatory to delivery of that shell after completion of the next indexing of the turntable 3. However, when the indexing of the turntable 3 has been completed, the follower roller 76 will be at the low point on the cam 77 to move the actuator bar 61 to the left to cause the turnover block 57 to flip over and deliver the shell thereon to the die 8 below.

Each time the turntable 3 is indexed to bring a die 8 with a cover c into alignment with the plunger 38, it also brings the die 'f8 that was in alignment with the plunger 33 and now contains a covered shell into cooperative position (FIG. 7) with an upper die assembly 80. This upper die assembly 80 cooperates with the aligned lower die 8 to assemble a button back b with the button component therein, namely the covered shell, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The die assembly 80 comprises a lower die part 87 having a central cavity 82 with an annular bevel 83, and a structure for releasably retaining a button back b. This button back-retaining structure comprises a pair of horizontally opposed grippers 84, 84 which are biased toward each other by springs 85 to grip the periphery of the back b. The grippersh 84, 84 provide a lateral opening 87' for receiving a back b. The die assembly 80 also has an upper die part 88 that is vertically slidable along guide rods 89, 89 which are threaded into the lower die part 87. Coil springs 91, 91 surround the rods 89, 89 and bear against the upper die part 88 and stop sleeves 92, 92 on the rods 89, 89.

The upper die part 88 has a central bore 93 for slidably receiving a tubular plunger 94, the lower portion of which has a longitudinal slot 96 for receiving a cross pin 97 and by which the die part 88 is maintained assembled with the plunger 94. A coil spring 99 surrounds the plunger 94 and bears against shoulders 101, 102 on the plunger 94 and die part 88, respectively. Depression of the die assembly 80 is effected by a drive rod 103 that reciprocates vertically in the frame 48. The drive rod 103 is positioned in recess portion 105 of plunger 94 and is secured to the plunger 94 by set screws 106, 106.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the drive rod 103 is pivoted to a clevis 107 on the rocker arm 46 which is, in turn, pivoted to a clevis 108 on the frame 48. Below the base plate 2 the lower end of the rocker arm 46 is pivoted to a pitman arm 109 that is driven by a crank 111 mounted on another output shaft 110 of the gear box 17.

As seen in FIGS. 4 and l0, above the table 7 is an inclined chute 112 for holding a Supply of the backs b. The lower end of the chute 112 opens to a horizontal plate 113 which is located iush with the lower horizontal surfaces of the grippers 84 when the die assembly 80 is in its retracted position, as shown in FIG. 7. On the plate 113 is a guide 114 for slidably receiving a horizontally reciprocating shuttle 115 for pushing a back b through the opening 87 and between the grippers 84, 84 which spread apart momentarily to receive the back b and then move together to grip the back b. Reciprocation of the feed shuttle 115 is controlled by a connecting rod 117 that is pivotally connected to a boss 116 on the feed shuttle 115. A lever 118 is pivotally connected to an end of the connecting rod 117, the lever 118 being pivoted at 120 to the frame of the machine. 'Ille lower end of the lever 118 is pivoted to a follower arm 119 that bears against a cam 121 mounted on the shaft 112. A return spring 122 holds the follower arm 119 against the cam 121. Thus, the feed shuttle 115 pushes a back b laterally into the lower die part 87 during that portion of the cycle of the machine when the die parts 87, 88 are separated after which the shuttle 115 retracts uncovering the adjacent opening of the chute 112 to allow another back b to slide into place in front of the shuttle 114 preparatory for the next cycle.

When the drive rod 103 descends, the plunger 94 will also move downwardly pushing with it, through the spring 99, the upper die part 88. The upper die part 88 will thereafter move into engagement with the lower die part 87 moving it downwardly until finally the lower end of the lower die part 87 enters the cavity 11 of the lower die 8. The lower die 8 is depressed relative to its pin 9 and the covered shell thereon. The plunger 94 proceeds to advance the back b into telescoping relationship with the button component that includes the shell s and cover c. The bevel 83 cooperates with the plunger 94 since the bevel 83 turns the skirt f into the path ofA movement of the back b. The back b is displaced from its seat between the holders 84, 84 by the plunger 94. This movement, completed as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, clinches the button components together. The grippers 84, 84 spread apart when the plunger 94 passes therebetween. Also, as the drive rod 103 and plunger 94 descend, the movement of the rocker arm 46 causes the bracket 45 to strike the valve actuator 44 so that the plunger 39 is operated during the stroke of the plunger 94.

When the upper die assembly 80 retracts, the plunger 94 is carried upwardly by the upward movement of the drive rod 103. When the cross pin 97 bottoms in the slot 96, further upward movement of the plunger 94 raises the upper die part 88 with the plunger 94. The lower die part 87 is also raised with the upper die part 88 through the springs 89, 89. When the sleeves 92, 92 abut the frame `48, the lower die part 87 stops but the plunger 94 continues to rise and elevate the upper die part 88 until finally the die parts 87, 88 are fully separated, as shown in FIG. 7, preparatory to receiving another button back b. The amount of space between the die parts 87, 88 when separated must, of course, be sufficient to provide clearance for the height of the button back b.

When the turntable 3 is indexed, the die 8 shown in FIG. 9 and containing a completed button is rotated to the next station counterclockwise (FIG. 4) from the upper die assembly 80. At that station the button may be removed from the die 8 by a conventional magnetic or vacuum pickolf mechanism, or by a conventional blowoff device that causes a jet of air to lift the completed button from the lower die.

While the machine is shown as being one Tor assembling shells, backs and covers, the machine may also be used for assembling backs and shells without Covers. In such case the shell s would fall into the lower die cavity 11 after passing through the chute 70. The plunger 38 may be operated to make sure that the shell s is properly aligned on its seat on the lower die pin 9. Also, the relative dimensions of the appropriate die parts as well as those of the shell s and back b will be adjusted so that the two can be clinched together without the cover. The bevel 83 may serve as a clincher or retainer for the peripheral part of the shell s adjacent to its opening, cooperating with the plunger 94 as it telescopes the back b with the button component s in the lower die.

I claim:

1. In the machine for making buttons each having a shell and a back, said machine comprising a group of dies, first means cooperating with each die of the group for introducing a button component therein, said button component being at least a shell, each die having means for supporting said button component therein, second and means for supporting said group of dies for movement of each successively into cooperative positions first with the first means and then with the second means and at each said successive movement bringing one of the dies into cooperative position with the second means and another of the dies into cooperative position with said first means.

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which said one part has opposed spring-biased means for retaining the back, and a plunger forming part of said second means is movable to pass between and separate said spring-biased means.

3. In a machine lfor making buttons, a holding die having means for supporting a button component that includes at least a button shell, and means cooperating with said holding die for assembling a button back with said button component; said last-named means comprising relatively movable die parts, one of said die parts having means for retaining a button back, means permitting separation of said die parts for positioning of a button back on said retaining means, a plunger for bringing said die parts together and for displacing the button back from its retained position on said one die part and into said holding die for telescoping with said button component, and means carried by said one die part and movable into said holding die upon operation of said plunger and cooperating with said plunger as the latter moves the back into telescoping relationship with said component to clinch the back and component together.

4. A machine according to claim 3 in which said die parts are relatively moved axially away from one another upon retraction of the plunger from said holding die.

S. A machine according to claim 3 in which the means for retaining a button back has means providing a lateral opening located axially intermediate said other die part and said means carried by said one die part.

-6. In a machine for making buttons each having a shell, a back within the shell, and a cover of flexible material for the shell, said machine comprising a group of dies each spaced from each other and each having means for supporting a shell and a cover, one on the other, and with said cover being opposite to an opening in the shell, a first plunger, means for telescoping said first plunger and one of said dies for Wrapping the cover over the outside of the shell and leave a skirt portion of the cover extending axially beyond said shell opening, said last-named means being operable to provide retraction of said first plunger from said covered shell, said first plunger during said wrapping moving the shell and cover in said one die to positions such that the wrapped shell is at a position axially offset from said supporting means, said one die having means for retaining said wrapped shell in said position, and means cooperating with said one die for assembling a back with a covered shell; said last-named means comprising a die part, means on said die part for retaining a back, said die part having means forming a lateral opening for receiving the back, a second plunger for displacing a back from its retained position on said die part and into said one die, and means carried by said die part and movable into said one die for interposing the skirt portion of the cover between the back and shell as the shell is moved by said second plunger into telescoping engagement with said shell; and means for bringing each die of the group successively first into axial alignment with said first plunger and then into axial alignment with said second plunger.

7. A machine according to claim 6 having means adja- References Cited cent to said laterally openable portion for feeding a back to said retaining means in timed relation t0 the stroke of UNITED STATES PATENTS said plunger. 598,711 2/ 1898 Ludington 79--5 8 A macllne alcctrdirtlg tqdcllim 6 flflfther ilcludif 5 669,997 3/1901 Ludington 79-5 means mova e re a ive o sal p unger or moving sa1 die part toward said one die. 671432. 5/1901 Gans 79-5 9. A machine according to claim 6 urther including 31442163 5/1969 Cham et al' 79-5 means for conveying shells toward the dies and for inverting each shell so that its open end is upwardly m- 10 mediately prior to depositing the shell on a cover in the die.

GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, JR., Primary Examiner 

